CarComplaints.com Notes: The Saturn Aura was a mid-size car meant to replace the somewhat problematic L-Series. Unfortunately, the Aura brought its own problems: namely cheap brake parts that needed early replacement and a gear shifter that could say it’s in park while the transmission was still engaged.

Brake problems, including uneven wear and warped rotors that cause the car to wobble, are common complaints from 2007 owners. Did GM use metal for its rotors that can’t stand the heat? That’s what some say, and it’s hard to argue when reports show that rotors could start to warp as early as 500 miles off the dealer lot.

Meanwhile, a busted gear shifter cable lead to some unwanted rollaways. That’s because the shifter could say “Park” while the transmission was still in drive, reverse or neutral. A defect investigation into the issue was opened in 2011, eventually leading to a recall of 56,000 vehicles in 2014.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
79,657 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2007 Saturn Aura engine problems

engine problem

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2007 Saturn Aura Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #63

Nov 032018

Aura

  • 198,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle has been in and out of repair for the same problem, engines have been replaced but no solution has been found. When driving around 60mph the engine would stall and 'engine power reduced' and 'traction off' would flash, reducing the car speed and making acceleration near impossible- sometimes multiple times in one trip. Car accelerates very slowly and causes traffic buildup. RPM is at 5 (X1000)/min at just 30mph and the engine is making loud noises. Sometimes when stalled or at a red light the engine will cut out completely and the car will die. Almost consistently the car will rattle and shake in a pulsing matter. As previously mentioned I have brought it in to local repair shops and no one has been able to find a solution. Often times the engine is replaced but the problem comes back after a couple weeks.

- Blaine, MN, USA

problem #62

Jun 082018

Aura

  • miles
On three separate occasions going at slow speeds, I step on the braks and the car jumps and go at a high speed when I am in traffic. In happens when the traffic is slow and then begins to move. The last occasion resulted in my car being totaled. It always the front end.

- Windsor Mills, MD, USA

problem #61

Mar 292018

Aura

  • miles
Car riding fine. No lights then all of a sudden I get in from the grocery store and my check engine light comes on, traction control light comes on, engine power reduced warning comes on and car starts jerking.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #60

Dec 132017

Aura

  • 103,602 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2007 Saturn Aura with 103,000 mile and the timing chain (belt) went. Upon investigating the issue I learned the same GM engine in my Aura is in the 2007 GMC acadia. GM has a recall on the timing belt for acadia engines and extended that warranty for 10 years with 120,000 miles. Despite others Aura owners complaints for same issue with same engine they will not extend that same courtesy to Saturn Aura owners. Luckily I was not driving the car when the belt malfunctioned.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #59

Oct 202017

Aura

  • 96,460 miles
While driving on the highway the engine light came on. I took it to the dealer this weekend and was told that the timing chain has stretched and that the camshaft actuator is not staying into position. There is currently a recall on this engine in every car model except the Saturn.

- Clayton, NC, USA

problem #58

Aug 212017

Aura

  • 147,300 miles
I was having trouble with my engine light coming on and reduced engine power and traction control off and throwing codes. Mostly 0641, 0107, 0106 and 1682. I have a code reader and was always able to clear them. I they came back right away I would disconnect the negative cable and that would seem to work. Sometimes I would drive for a couple weeks to a month or two with no problems. Then on Aug. 21, 2017 the engine light came on again and I had a hard time getting it started again. When I did it was running rough. So I drove it to my local dealer, they reset the codes and updated the ECM. The next night I was driving, car was running smooth, no problems. I pulled into a parking lot and the engine light and reduced power and traction off warning came on. It was running rough and stalled. I tried to restart it and the was a fairly loud noise from under the hood. There were codes set 1682, 0452, 0641, and 0107. I tried to clear them with my code reader but they wouldn't clear. I un did the negative cable and that didn't work. I tried to restart the car and all I got was a mild clicking sound I noticed a burning smell from under the hood, so I thought the ECM burnt up. Since I was unable to get it started I called a tow truck and had it towed back to the dealer. The next day the when I contacted the dealer they asked me if I wanted to have the repairs needed from the previous day done. None of the noted repairs had anything to do withe the car dying. I told them to just figure out why the car will not start. While they were working on it I called GM owner assistance because at this point I had some feelings of mistrust. The dealer called me after 3 hours and told me they were not going to charge me the service fee and my engine was seized. I was flabbergasted. I asked them how could the engine just seize up with no warning. I

- Ferndale, MI, USA

problem #57

Dec 182016

Aura

  • 18,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine timing chains problem. My car only had 18,800 miles on it when the check engine light came on. Took it to a dealer and was told I had to spend 2000 dollars on having the timing chains replaced. The dealer said it was a common problem with this engine. GM would not help because my car was just about 10 years old. The oil was changed along with the filter every 3,000 miles by a dealer. When it was repaired the mechanic said it was missing the camshaft thrust washers. GM didn't care the tires were outlasting a timing chain that should be good for over 100,000 miles.

- Coon Rapids, MN, USA

problem #56

Apr 302017

Aura

  • 171,000 miles
My car revs up and starts taking off on its own while my foots on the brake, im at a complete stop, I have a hard time stopping it, I put it in park when im stopped now, it reves up while at a complete stop and takes off, 7 times now

- Largo, FL, USA

problem #55

Apr 222017

Aura

  • 88,797 miles
I took my 2007 Saturn Aura xr 3.6L to Firestone to have a diagnostic test. Firestone alerted me that I needed a timing chain. I search the internet and found GM warranty 11340 covered other GM vehicles with the same 3.6L motor and repaired the timing chain at no cost! why is the Saturn Aura not on the list we have the same motor.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #54

Mar 182017

Aura

  • 210,000 miles
While driving 55 on a busy two lane highway the vehicle dinged and read service traction control on console, immediately the it flashed engine power reduced and engine disabled and my car lost all power and I was unable to get it all the way off the road due to the uphill incline - the car behind me shot out into oncoming traffic and almost caused a major multiple car pile up. The car restarted after sitting a few minutes with reduced engine power for the first twenty miles - I could top out at about 45 and hear an electrical engagement sound. I took it to the dealership but the traction control and engine lights were gone by the time I got there and it was back up to power. I was told it was likely a sensor on the brake pedal and they had to order the part. It has disabled on me about five times now without warning and does so at any speed. It started this before any other problems with the vehicle, specifically as I lost traction on some icy snow and spun the tires a few times when the car had 50,000 miles on it. Before the traction control was addressed I had to replace the engine as the timing chain and cam actuators failed at 210 K. we somehow forgot about the tc problem and three days into driving with a new engine the car disabled again stating service traction control.

- Oakridge, OR, USA

problem #53

Sep 142016

Aura

  • 86,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Check engine light illuminated with codes P0016 and P0017, the cause of which is a stretched timing chain. This same exact problem in the GMC acadia, with the same engine, resulted in a warranty extension to 10 years and 120,000 miles. This car has only 86,000 miles and will not pass emissions due to the defective engine design/ and or timing chain problem. Cost to repair is anywhere from $1600 to $3000 and may reappear in as little as 20,000 additional miles.

- Schererville, IN, USA

problem #52

Mar 142016

Aura 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Aura. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Various warning lights illuminated prior to the failure. The contact mentioned that other drivers noticed and informed the contact that the rear of the vehicle was on fire. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and exited the vehicle. The contact mentioned that smoke was seen coming from the hood of the vehicle before it caught fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 08/30/16

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #51

May 212016

Aura

  • 100,000 miles
The engine power reduced and the traction light come on. When trying to take off the engine has no power. Also when you are driving at regular speed it will reduce without warning. It makes me feel very unsafe to drive. This car has been nothing but issues from day one and now that they stopped making them GM doesn't want to help. They just want to sell you a new car.

- Brooklyn Park, MD, USA

problem #50

Mar 172016

Aura

  • 95,500 miles
Ses light illuminated at approx 95,000 miles when backing out of my driveway. Code read is P0017. I took to my local Iowa city GM dealership to diagnose and was told it's a stretched timing chain. I'm the vehicle's second owner and purchased it 6 years ago at 33,000 miles. I've always performed regular oil changes at the specified intervals and taken good care of the car. I was quoted $2,500 to fix this, and told this is not under warranty. A technical service bulletin was issued for certain effected vehicles of the same year with the same engine but excludes the satun/Aura xr: www-ODI.NHTSA.dot.gov/tsbs/. this is a safety issue with the car and would I would like to know why my 3.6L engine is not covered under the above bulletin.

- Coralville, IA, USA

problem #49

Mar 192016

Aura

  • 148,000 miles
I started the car (in the rain) suddenly the tc light came on and also the warning words engine power reduction. The car would not accelerate. I left the car for the weekend in the driveway and when I started it on Monday, everything seemed ok.

- Hobe Sound, FL, USA

problem #48

Mar 022016

Aura

  • 10 miles
It been happen every week.I be driving all the sudden the tc light come on also the engine light and the speed reduce I pull over and cut the car off for awhile then the tc light go off and the speed come back.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #47

Feb 122016

Aura

  • 136,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Aura. While driving approximately 55 mph, the engine warning light illuminated. The dealer diagnosed that the timing chain and tensioner belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000. The VIN was not provided.

- Masa, AZ, USA

problem #46

Feb 102016

Aura

  • miles
My family has owned GM vehicles for 35 + years. February 2016, I was driving my 2007 Saturn Aura xr (V6 3.6 L engine) home and the check engine light came on. I took it to my local GM dealer who stated it that it was a timing chain issue. Repair cost $ $1,667.05. This is not acceptable, why? it is the third timing chain on the car. Yes, that's right third! problems with timing chain & timing chain tensioners easily go unnoticed and cause serious damage to the vehicle. A defective timing chain can cause damage to the engine and present serious safety concerns. The first timing chain failed at 56,000 miles in March 2013 the second timing chain failed at 80,000 miles February 2016 in 2 years 11 months and 24,000 miles, the timing chain needed replacement something is inherently wrong with this engine and/or replacement parts. It is unacceptable to need a third (3) timing chain on a vehicle. Our 2007 Saturn Aura xr has the same V6 3.6 L engine as the 2007 models: (Cadillac cts, srx, sts; GMC acadia & Saturn outlook) that General Motors issued a recall concerning premature wear of timing chains for these 2007 models. GM should honor the recall for our Saturn Aura xr. As loyal GM customers, we are requesting reimbursement for repair expenses of $ $1,667.05 for replacement of second (2) timing chain in less than three years.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #45

Dec 222015

Aura

  • 110,000 miles
This car has been a bust since the warranty expired. The transmission went out a year ago and was of course a recall for many other Auras except our specific one. Had that replaced, now its the timing chain, which is also a common complaint of the Aura yet there is no recall. The car misfires, shakes violently when in idle and when driving. It has a very hard shift. Its very hard to accelerate and the rpms shoot up. It also stalls and it sometimes just shuts off. Every light in the vehicle is on, check engine, stabilty, etc. It another expensive repair thats worth more than half the car.

- North Canton, OH, USA

problem #44

Jun 022015

Aura

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Saturn Aura. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the check engine warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and diagnosed that the crankshaft correlation needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Erie, PA, USA

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